WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

BOOKER T. WASHINGTON IN MALDEN

Volunteer Interpreter Manual

Prepared by Emily Snodgrass

Fall 2014

In partial fulfillment of requirements for HISTORY 415: Introduction to Public History

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INTRODUCTION

This docent manual is a product of an assignment required for the West Virginia State University

(WVSU) fall 2014 course HST 415 Public History. In contrast to other sub domains in the

history discipline such as academic history that relies mainly on sources and studying facts,

public history is where a historian applies their knowledge to an the understanding of an

audience be it on past issues or existing ones today.

This particular docent manual pertains to the Booker T. Washington sites that are owned by

WVSU and are part of the universities’ Booker T. Washington Institute (BTWI). The BTWI’s

mission, as stated on the universities webpage, is to promote the history of Booker T.

Washington as well as the forming of his ideals through receptions and programs held in and

around sites in Malden, WV including his reconstructed boyhood home and schoolhouse.

Unfortunately, in an attempt to schedule a visit to the sites in Malden, it was made apparent that

the university actually knew very little about the Institute. Along with the lack of actual

information on the website, the university also did not know to whom hopeful tourist needed to

speak to in order to schedule a visit; leaving the impression the sites were not accessible to

public. Ultimately the tour was left to volunteer interpreters of the historical events that took

place in the town, indicating the need of a collaborative class effort to create an extensive docent

manual.

Website: Please visit the official BTWI website at http://www.wvstateu.edu/about-wvsu/booker-

t-washington-institute.aspx for reference on the connection to WVSU.

What is a docent/interpreter?

In the context of a historic site, a docent or interpreter is a volunteer who gives tours to visitors.

(The word docent comes from the Latin word, docere, which means to teach.)

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What is a volunteer interpreter manual?

One important step in sharing the history of Malden is to know Malden’s local history! This

manual provides background information for potential volunteer tour guides on Malden’s history

as it relates to Booker T. Washington. As such it provides information to build a solid foundation

of knowledge about Booker and Malden, but it does not contain everything that is known about

him or his boyhood experience.

What are interpreter responsibilities?

Open visitor contact sites upon arrival

Greet visitors

Collect admission fees (if any)

Provide tours to the general public at designated times

Close visitor contact sites after the last visitors depart

Attend scheduled volunteer meetings and enrichment programs, when scheduled

Know about Booker and Malden!

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I. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF BOOKER T. WASHINGTON IN MALDEN

Born a slave on s Virginia plantation, Booker Taliaferro Washington had little information about

his life including the actual date of his birthday, which is now presumed to be around 1856, and

the vague knowledge that his father was supposedly a white man. Despite his meager beginnings,

Washington would rise up from the dredges of slavery to become one of the most prominent and

remembered African Americans to this date.

President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 announced freedom of all

slaves in the southern rebelling states; however, there were exemptions present that left the fate

of families such as Washington’s up in the air. Lincoln’s address, however political it was, only

announced the freedom of slaves in rebelling states, leaving the ‘Border States’ as well as states

that had already been recaptured by the Union troops, such as Virginia, out of the picture.

Lincoln’s address specifically mentions Virginia but adds “except the forty-eight counties

designated as West Virginia.” 1Their freedom was official after the end of the Civil War at

which time they then relocated to Malden, West Virginia.

Once in Malden, young Booker worked alongside his step father in the salt furnaces in Kanawha

County. Despite the harsh labor, and his family’s many hardships, Washington greatly desired to

gain an education. After an implied brief stint in the salt mines, he began his first formal

education as well as became the live-in house boy of the prominent Ruffner family. It was here

that Viola Ruffner became one of Booker’s lifelong friends as well as one of the most influential

people in his life. Booker learned the meaning of hard work and cleanliness as well as the ability

to read under the instruction of Mrs. Ruffner. It was here that his passion for learning grew, and

after obtaining the necessary funds, Washington traveled to the Hampton Normal and

Agricultural Institute in Virginia to apply for admittance. After completing a rigorous test of his

hard work, he was admitted, but had to hold a job as a janitorial assistant to support himself

while he studied.2

After the death of his mother, Booker returned to Hampton to continue his coursework where he

graduated in the summer of 1875. He then returned home to become a teacher at the very school

1 “Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.”

2 Up from Slavery, an Autobiography

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he first attended. In 1878, Booker traveled to Washington D.DC. to study at the Wayland

Seminary. Shortly after his one year stay, Washington received an invitation from General S.C.

Armstrong to teach a night class he was organizing at Hampton Institute, which he accepted.

Shortly after returning to Hampton, he was placed in charge of the Native American students as a

dorm father, but General Armstrong once again recommended him for another job. In 1881,

Booker was recommended to travel to Tuskegee, Alabama to head a Normal School, that later

became Tuskegee Institute. Despite its meager beginnings as a farm, Booker and his students

built the Institute up from scratch, even laying the bricks themselves to the very first buildings of

the campus.

BTW’s wife, Fannie Washington, gave birth to his first child Portia in 1883; however, tragedy

struck when Fannie fell from a wagon and died from her injuries. Washington remarried later to

a colleague at the Institute, Olivia America Davidson, whom he had hired as Lady Principal.

Together, they had two sons, Booker Jr. (Baker) and Ernest Davidson, before Olivia’s untimely

death due to injuries sustained during a house fire. Washington married his third wife, Margaret

James Murray, who also served as Lady Principal and together the two traveled the southern

states to encourage black citizens to better themselves.

In 1895, Washington was invited to speak in front of a committee at the Cotton States and

International Exposition where he encouraged both white and black citizens to work and prosper

together in what is known as The Atlanta Address. This famous address paved the way for The

Atlanta Compromise legislations that followed, implementing ideas Washington suggested. From

there, Washington was invited to cities all over to speak and attend receptions in his honor, and

even became the first African American to be invited to dine at the White House with President

Theodore Roosevelt.

Washington has written two autobiographies, the first The Story of My Life and Work, and his

most famous Up from Slavery, which is still renowned for excellence today. He had many key

roles in the Kanawha Valley such as placement on a committee to decide where the capitol of

West Virginia would permanently sit as well as recommending Byrd Prillerman to head the

newly established West Virginia Colored Institute. Booker died in 1915 at the age of 59 in

Tuskegee, Alabama where he is buried on a hill overlooking the Institution he created.

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Booker T. Washington Life Events Timeline

1856 - Burrough's Plantation, Hales Ford, Virginia - Booker T. Washington is born a slave on

April 5th

1861 - Civil War begins in April

1863 – President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation. (This did not apply to

Washington’s family as the 48 counties that were forming the state of West Virginia were

exempted.)

1865 - Malden, WV - Civil War Ends. Washington and his family are freed and travel to the

Kanawha Valley

1865-1871 - Malden, WV - Booker starts his first formal education while working in the salt

industry with his stepfather

1872 - Hampton, VA - Booker obtains the funds to attend the Hampton Normal and Agricultural

Institute where he worked as an assistant janitor as he studied.

1874 - Malden, WV - Booker's mother passes away during his school break.

1875 - Hamtpon VA - Booker returns to Hampton Institute to continue his coursework in the fall

and graduates that summer

1875- 1877 - Malden, WV - Booker returns home and becomes an educator at the first school he

ever attended

1878 - Washington, D.C. - Studied at Wayland Seminary for a year 3

1878 - Charleston, WV - Booker was called upon to be on a committee to determine the seat of

the capital city and campaigned for Charleston which ultimately won. 4

3 There are contradictions to the time Washington spent at the Wayland Seminary where as he himself originally

claimed to have spent “eight months”, he later goes back to recount he spent a year studying in D.C. The NPS website also states that his time spent at the Seminary was 18 months. 4 There is some confusion as to when he actually attended this meeting as in his book he claims to have received

the invitation a year after he began his studies at the Wayland Seminary, however, the WV Commerce website says voting was held in 1877 for the permanent home of the new capitol.

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1879 - Hampton, VA - Booker is asked by General S.C. Armstrong to deliver the graduate

commencement address, and then later to teach a night class he was organizing

1880 - 1881 - Hampton, VA - Booker was placed in charge of the newly admitted Native

American students as their dorm father

1881 - Hampton, VA - General Armstrong recommends Booker to head a Normal School in

Tuskegee, Alabama,

1881 - Tuskegee, AL - Booker arrives in Tuskegee in mid-June

1881- Tuskegee, AL - Washington opens the Tuskegee Institute in a small church on July 4th and

after a few months purchased the land on which the Institute stands

1882- Tuskegee, AL – The school’s first building is built by its own students.

1882 – Malden, WV – Washington marries Fannie Norton Smith whom he grew up with

1883 – Tuskegee, AL – His first child, daughter Portia, is born.

1884 - Tuskegee, AL – Fannie Washington falls from a wagon and dies in May.

1884 – Madison, Wisconsin – Booker is invited to speak before the National Educational

Association

1885 – Tuskegee, AL- Washington remarries a fellow teacher he had hired who also served as

Lady Principal at the Institute, Olivia America Davidson

1887–Tuskegee, AL- His first son, Booker (Baker) T. Washington Jr. is born 5

1889 – The couple welcomes their second son, Ernest Davidson Washington.

1889 – Tuskegee, AL – Wife, Olivia Davidson Washington, dies from substantial injuries in May

after four years of marriage

5 Small conflicting reports on the location of Booker’s birth, whereas the Census of 1900 indicates that the initials

“MA” were written in the column representing place of birth indicating that he was born in the state of Massachusetts. However, the Census of 1910 shows a change in place of birth with the initials “AL” now written in the column indicating Alabama.

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1889 – The Slater Fund trustees help Washington and his wife travel to southern cities to give

lectures on how to improve their lives

1889 – Chicago, IL – Washington speaks at the Chicago Auditorium during Jubilee week, his

biggest audience to date including attendees such as President McKinley

1893 – Tuskegee, AL – Washington marries Margaret James Murray who also served as Lady

Principal

1893 - Atlanta, GA – Washington speaks in at the Christian Workers international meeting

1895 – Nashville, TN - Was invited to give a lecture in front of the Fisk University Lecture

Bureau

1895 – Atlanta, GA – Delivers The Atlanta Address at the Cotton States and International

Exposition in front of a committee, encouraging both white and black citizens to work together,

thus laying the foundations for The Atlanta Compromise

1896 – Tuskegee, AL- Washington recruits George Washington Carver to the Institute.

1896 – Harvard University honors Booker with an honorary degree

1896 – President William McKinley is elected- Washington Post issues editorial encouraging the

president to place Washington in his cabinet (Booker later says that he had no intention of

accepting such a position)

1897 – Boston, MA- Delivers address at the dedication of the Robert Gould Shaw monument

1898 - Washington, DC – Washington speaks with President McKinley in October where he then

asked the President to visit Tuskegee. This would be one of two visits he requested the

Presidents visitation of the Institute.

1898 – Tuskegee, AL – President McKinley visits the institute in December.

1899 – Birmingham, AL – Washington invited to address the Lyceum, a white literary

organization composed of the upper class of Birmingham.

1899 – Fort Worth, TX – Washington speaks in front of the National Farmers’ Association

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1899 – The Washington’s traveled to Europe on the “St. Louis” where Booker was invited to

speak to the passengers

1899 – Charleston, WV – Washington attends a reception held in his honor by citizens and ex-

Gov. W.A. MacCorkle as well as the presiding Governor George W. Atkinson.

1899 – Huntsville, AL – Washington invited to speak at a meeting pertaining to the rebuilding of

the South.

1899 – Madison Square Garden, NY- a public meeting was held to promote the Tuskegee

Institute’s cause in an attempt to raise money where attendees included ex-President Grover

Cleveland and John D. Rockefeller.

1900 - Washington publishes his first autobiography, The Story of My Life and Work.

1900 - Tuskegee, AL- Washington founds an organization that provides consideration to colored

people throughout the country, known as the National Negro Business League

1901 – His most famous autobiography, Up from Slavery is published

1901 – Washington D.C.- President Theodore Roosevelt invites Washington to dine at the white

house to discuss political appointments in the South.

1903 – Washington begins his rivalry with W.E.B. Du Bois’ when he published his critical essay

‘Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others

1909 – Washington recommends Byrd Prillerman to head West Virginia Colored Institute

1915 – Tuskegee, AL – Booker T. Washington dies on November 14th

and is buried on a hill

overlooking the Institute.

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II. HISTORIC SITES THAT EXISTED IN BOOKER T. WASHINGTON’S TIME

African Zion Baptist Church

The African American families living in Malden (formally known as Kanawha Salines)

organized what is thought to be the first African American Baptist congregation of West Virginia

in 1852. Construction of the African Zion Baptist Church was financed by General Lewis

Ruffner, a prominent member of the community in 1872. General Lewis donated the land,

money, and materials for the church that is located at 4104 Malden Drive.

The one room, one story structure is built atop a stone foundation and was originally constructed

entirely of wood. The church is topped by a gable roof crowned with a still-working wooden bell

tower. The architecture is typical of Southern style churches of its time- rectangular with only

two windows on each side topped with segmental arched hoods. Much of the structure has

remained as it was built with few renovations- mostly done to modernize in the 1940’s. A

shingled roof replaced the original and a small addition was built. A tin roof has since been

added for he continued preservation of the building.

The inside of the church maintains the same architectural design of sparseness and simplicity.

Tongue and groove wainscoting cover the four walls. Long hand-hewn wooden pews still remain

equally distributed on each side. The original pine wooden floors remain as a testament to the

character and age of the building.

The church is believed to be the mother church of all African American Baptist churches in the

state of West Virginia. Booker T. Washington attended the church as a young man and became a

prominent member of the church, remaining so throughout his life. Dr. Washington taught

Sunday school and married his first wife, Fannie Norton Smith, in this church.6 Another

prominent leader of the African American community in Kanawha County was Reverend Lewis

Rice. He was a founding member of the church and historians report he baptized Booker T.

Washington. The church was added to the National Registrar of Historic Places in 1974 and

although church services are no longer held in the building, it is often used for special

6 The West Virginia e-encyclopedia webpage on the African Zion Baptist Church states this is where Booker married

his first wife, however, in the pamphlet written by Attorney Larry Rowe cites sources that report he married Fannie Norton Smith in the Kanawha Salines Presbyterian Church.

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ceremonies and events. The church is cared for and maintained by West Virginia State

University. 7

Kanawha Salines Presbyterian Church

Reverend Henry Ruffner, the son of Salt Industrialist, David Ruffner, formed the congregation of

the Kanawha Salines Presbyterian Church in 1819 along with the congregation of the

Presbyterian Church in Charleston. Services were alternately held between the two churches for

almost twenty years. In 1840, Henry’s father, David, donated land on what is now 4305 Salines

Drive, Malden, West Virginia and financed the construction of the church.

The church is built of red brick in the classic antebellum style. There are two doors at the front of

the building and windows are small and symmetric on either side. In 1931, the Ruffner property

adjoining the church was acquired for the addition of the Sunday school building. Renovations of

the sanctuary and foundation were completed in 195. Additional property was acquired through

donation by Alma Eastwood McConnell (located east of the building) in 1987.

The Kanawha Salines Presbyterian Church was the pride of David Ruffner. His son, Henry, was

the first minister and his other son Lewis and his wife Viola attended the church. As a member of

the household servants of Lewis and Viola Ruffner, Booker T. Washington may have very well

attended services in this church on occasion. The funeral of his sister, Amanda, was held there in

1915 rather than the African Zion Baptist Church because it was larger and could accommodate

more people. This church is the oldest church in the Malden community and the oldest

Presbyterian Church in West Virginia. Services are still held every Sunday by a very active

congregation.

Hale House

The Hale House has many historical ties in Malden, beginning with its namesake Dr. John P.

Hale. A fellow native of Hales Ford, Virginia, Dr. Hale came to Malden as a physician only to

change his career to the growing salt industry where he became the owner of possibly the largest

salt works on the continent. After the decline of the sale industry, Hale remained in Kanawha

7 There is a lack of information on the WVSU website about who to contact for entry and maintenance of these

properties resulting in difficulty to arrange certain events.

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County and went on to other interests like owning the first gas company in Charleston as well as

the first steam ferry in Charleston, and was a leader in the effort of having the state capitol

moved to Charleston. Hale is probably remembered more as his position as mayor in Charleston

as well as his Hale House hotel (replaced by the Ruffner Hotel after burning). He was also the

ancestor of the famous Mary Draper Ingles who escaped captivity and walked along the

Kanawha River to return home.

Another noteworthy inhabitant was the Cabin Creek Quilts Cooperative which was the nation’s

last cooperative known for their authentic quilts and other home goods made by heritage quilters.

Their work has been seen around the state and was particularly noticed by Jacqueline Kennedy

Onassis for whom the Cooperative made a bride’s quilt, launching the authentic goods into the

world of high fashion for over 20 years. Although the cooperative closed in 2005, the house

remains in the historic district and serves as the headquarters for the Kanawha Valley Village

People, a group dedicated to aiding seniors who live independently in their homes.

The home itself is reportedly one of the three oldest buildings in town, dating back to 1838, and

boasts a Federal style plan with asymmetrical, simple, and flat themes. Due to this popular style,

the door is not centered in the middle, however, is at the end leading to a staircase directly in

front the door. The one-story porch wraps around the main block on three sides, ending on the

newer addition that was added to expand the rear of the home, although not in the style of the

rest of the home. The Hale House resides at 4208 Malden Drive, across the street from the

Booker T. Washington Park

Norton House

Officially the oldest frame house in Malden, dating back to 1840, the Norton House came into

Moses Norton’s possession via the Ruffner’s who obtained the home from the original owners. 8

Descendants of the Norton’s include two locally renowned educators, Martha and Llewellyn

Cole, both of which also served as local historians and displayed their own lineage traced back to

8 There is a discrepancy between reports of who actually built the house. Larry Rowe’s History Tour of Old Malden

pamphlet says the home was built by the Norton’s, however, the Historic American Buildings Survey National Architectural and Engineering Record indicate the architect is unknown and was owned by several parties until being passed down to the Norton family.

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Daniel Boone. There are some reports that during the Civil War, soldiers from both the Union

and Confederacy slept there.

The two-story home rests on wooden beams buried in the ground with a detached kitchen

intended to prevent the spread of fire during the winter seasons. The house was restored in 1994

and in 1998 the kitchen was joined to the house and murals by a local artist were added for

decoration. There is a subsidiary entrance on the side facing Malden Drive although the main

entrance faces Commerce Drive, formerly Third Street (The only house on Malden Drive to do

so). In 1979, the house reportedly had a ceramic shop inside.

The House currently houses the African American Heritage Family Tree Museum’s “Jordan

Collection”, displaying two and three dimensional displays of African American coal miners,

Booker T. Washington, Black Arts Movement Poet Norman Jordan. The African American

Heritage Family Tree Museum has taken an active role in collecting and preserving West

Virginia’s African American culture and history. Their headquarters is in downtown Ansted,

WV (Fayette County) with the Ansted Cultural & Heritage Museum. Visits can be arranged by

appointment. 9

Putney House

The Putney House is the oldest residence in Malden (circa 1836) and is one of the least altered

among the Historic District. Richard E. Putney was a well-known physician from Buckingham

County, Virginia who married Anne Ruffner, the daughter of David Ruffner, and together with

David laid out the town in a New England style with two-story brick homes set close to the

street.

In 1868, the Trustees of the Kanawha Salines Presbyterian Church purchased the home and used

it as a manse until 1952 when a new one was built and the church sold the Putney House to C.C.

Dickinson. The home was then willed to heirs of Dickinson and used as a rental property until

1973 when James C. Jeter and James H. Coleman purchased the property for their law office,

thus preserving the home as well as leading preservation efforts for the town.

9 There are conflicting addresses in multiple sources. Where the Historic American Buildings Survey

National Architectural and Engineering Record says it’s located at 4105 Malden Drive, other sites say 315 Commerce Drive. This is probably due to the fact that the house has two entrances, one on each side.

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The two-story brick home displays further evidence to the town’s tendency to mix architectural

styles, using a Federal style main entrance framed by a mid-nineteenth-century porch. The house

has experienced few alterations other than color change and floor replacements, as well as

restorations to the fireplaces and windows, the most significant change being the addition in the

back. The house was the first in Malden to contain a modern bathroom installed in 1910, but the

present owners have removed the bathroom in order to restore the hall to resemble the original

floor plan. The home remains a private residence.10

Ruffner Family Cemetery

The Ruffner Family was one of the most prominent families involved in the formation and

development of the Kanawha Valley. In 1794, Joseph Ruffner purchased land between the Elk

and Kanawha Rivers as well as the present day downtown Charleston and East End districts.

Joseph moved his wife and sons to the Kanawha Valley where they settled in Clendenin.

Although the property descended to all of his sons upon his death it was the eldest, David, who

most strongly impacted the Kanawha Valley. Along with his brother, David developed methods

and tools for drilling salt wells and started the industry that would become Kanawha Salines. In

1831, he settled in the town of Malden (Part of the land he inherited), and became active in

politics.

David’s eldest son, Henry, became a Presbyterian minister in the first Presbyterian Church in

Charleston. He became an active figure in education where he taught ancient languages as well

as served as President of Washington College until 1848where he left to participate in the

emancipation movement. Henry is most known for his anti-slavery writings Address to the

People of West Virginia (More commonly known as the “Ruffner Pamphlet”) where he argued

for gradual emancipation on social and economic platforms as well as discouraged growth of

industry, agriculture, free labor, and education. The pamphlets also detailed his views on the

political advantages of the eastern part of Virginia, going further to suggest considering the

separation of Western Virginia from the state.

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Relations between Richard Putney and the Ruffner family might have been strained as evidenced in Virginia Court of Appeals case Ruffner v. Putney & others.

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The Ruffner family cemetery sits in a small coal depot west of Malden where the Ruffner’s’

historic first salt well sits nearby. The cemetery is near former site of Henry’s brother’s, Lewis

and his wife Viola, two-story home and is the final resting place of the two brothers and their

father David. In addition to these three influential men, the cemetery now holds the remains of

eighteen various members of the Ruffner lineage.11

Amanda Johnston’s House Site

In the summer of 1865, Booker T. Washington’s mother moved him, his half-sister Amanda, and

his brother John to Malden, West Virginia to join Booker’s stepfather, Washington Ferguson,

who had found work in the salt industry booming there. In 1880, John and Amanda’s husband

Benjamin Johnston obtained the property and John reportedly sold his share to his sister for

$1.00. Booker mentions visiting his sister at her Malden home multiple times and despite

rumors it is not clear in records whether or not Booker had the home built for his sister or not.

According to the Historic American Buildings Survey of the crumbling home in 1979, the two-

story home sported a brick front with a one-story wooden rear addition. At the time of the survey

the house only had one remaining porch lining the front with what appeared to be a gabled roof

covering the front.

The site that once housed Amanda Ferguson Johnston’s home is now called “The Booker T.

Washington Park of West Virginia State University”. Due to the abandoned home’s disrepair and

ruinous state, the Kanawha Valley Historical and Preservation Society took the initiative to save

other historic buildings to avoid the same fate. All that remains of the home is the concrete block

foundation where a monument dedicated to Great African American Families in Malden now

sits.

Booker T. Washington Cabin Site

Booker T. Washington’s boyhood cabin is suspected to originally have been on the US Route 60

Entrance Ramp. Due to the home’s destruction over time, possibly due to the construction of the

road and the railroad tracks that run along the highway, it’s likely any remains were removed or

buried.

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Viola Ruffner (wife of General Lewis Ruffner) is buried in Louisville, Kentucky.

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The original home, as pictured in The Outlook (magazine publication of Up from Slavery), was a

common style cabin designed for working families throughout the South. The one story home

was painted white on the front and had a third room built onto the back. There was reportedly a

loft for sleeping and a fireplace where the family cooked and ate together.

Booker moved in with the Ruffner’s when he took the job of their houseboy and gardener soon

after arriving in Malden, trading in his cabin lifestyle for the high expectations of Mrs. Viola

Ruffner.

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III. BOOKER T. WASHINGTON’S RECONSTRUCTED CABIN AND SCHOOL

Due to the destruction of the original site and efforts to preserve Malden’s history, the OIC of

America (OICA) was contacted and aided in the reconstruction of the cabin and school on a lot

behind the African Zion Baptist Church. The OIC has strong ties to African American history in

West Virginia with its founder Leon Sullivan and made history in an effort to preserve history

itself. As mentioned in Part II, the photo published in The Outlook of Booker T. Washington’s

home in 1872 depicts a white painted front and addition to the back, however, this was not the

photo that was used as the model of the reconstruction. The photo that was chosen is one taken

likely in the 1890’s long after Booker’s stay with the Ruffner’s and enrollment in the Hampton

Institute. In this photo the cabin is depicted as a more run down workers home, with no white

paint and a metal roof. The resulting reconstruction was a cabin that resembled the standard

build of houses for a working family and was designed to look like the one in the photo with the

absence of the addition that possibly served as a second bedroom or living area.12

The inspiration of the typical working family cabin was described as an effort of the families

desire to demonstrate that freed slaves were worthy neighbors and workers. This gives simple

understanding of the influences that were present in a young Booker’s life. Upon first arriving to

Malden, every member of Booker’s family had a job. While his mother was home doing laundry

for some in the town, Booker and his brother John, followed their stepfather into the salt works

until Booker ultimately found a more appealing job as the Ruffner’s houseboy and gardener. It

was from this early age and experiences that Booker’s ideals of rising above prejudice and

racism in attempt at bettering themselves more than likely took form. It is also easy to assume

that Booker’s desire of education came from this ideal as well and found ways to overcome

disadvantages as well as found support in the most unlikely of places.

When Reverend Rice opened his home for the education of African American children, Booker

was too busy working to support his family. With no child labor laws present, there was nothing

preventing Booker from joining his step father and brother in the salt works for long grueling

hours. Despite this disadvantage, a disappointed, yet determined, Booker set out to learn how to

12

There is one structure that the caretaker attorney Larry Rowe (historian and author of the History Tour of Old Malden – Booker T. Washington’s Formative Years, and former owner of the property) stated on his tour that was on the property before the reconstruction project began and it had been there long enough to look like it belonged in the scenery.

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read and write. Booker’s supportive mother helped arrange for him to work with a teacher at

night after work and eventually he was allowed to attend day school taught by William Davis,

who was hired only to teach the African American children, for a few months at a time but had to

get up early and go to work until 9 o’clock only to return at 2.

Due to the lack of consistent instruction, young Booker felt out of place with the other children

and due to his family’s poor state did not dress the same way as other children in the town. It

was because of this that Booker decided to adopt the name of his step father while attending

school and thus became known as Booker T. Washington. Much to his dismay, Booker was then

sent to work in the coal mines in Campbell’s Creek to further support his family, but it was here

that he first heard two miners talking about an African American school in Virginia (Hampton

Normal and Agricultural Institute) and became determined to get there no matter what. It was in

the mines where he also overheard talks of an opening in the home of General Lewis and Viola

Ruffner as a houseboy and gardener.

Booker left his family’s cabin to move in with the Ruffner’s and it was here that he learned a

great deal about cleanliness and structure and encourages him to further his education under the

mentorship of Viola Ruffner who encouraged his want of a formal education. Influences of

mortality and the struggle of African Americans made life long reminders in the young boy when

he witnessed Lewis Ruffner knocked unconscious with a brick while protecting freedmen from

white night riders, resulting in a permanent brain injury. Using Mrs. Ruffner’s skills of hard

work he made his way to Hampton Institute and became an honor graduate who later went on to

establish the Tuskegee Institute, teaching young men the same lessons and more. The Ruffner

family remained close to Booker throughout the remainder of their lives and to this day the

families descendants reach out to descendants of Booker in an eternal friendship.

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IV. THE TOUR

Logistics: Although there are several historical features in Historic Malden, this docent is

organized in such a way as to highlight key points in Booker T. Washington’s life in Malden,

West Virginia. Parking can be found in either of the African Zion Baptist Church or the Hale

House lots, but in order to provide easy flow and story presentation, this tour is designed to begin

in the church where groups can gather (A fun option is available to those who wish to ring the

bell in the fashion of “Calling the church to session”). The church should be used as a place to

provide a short synopsis of the life of Booker T. Washington for guests who may not know about

him or his involvement with the Tuskegee Institute. From the church, the tour then proceeds

through the back door to the reconstructed cabin and school to discuss BTW’s boyhood life in

Malden. The town’s layout unfortunately calls for safety precautions due to crossing the street a

couple times throughout the tour, such as when moving the group from the church to the BTW

Park to discuss Booker’s sister Amanda’s former home.

While the Norton House does not particularly pertain directly to young Booker’s life, it might be

noteworthy to mention the African American Heritage collection it contains for future reference

to those who might be interested to learn more about the African American life in West Virginia.

At this point the docent will allow for the conclusion of the tour, but as a means of expanding on

the history of Historic Malden itself, the Hale House can be accessed upon special advanced

requests.

Organization of the manual: The following entries follow the order as listed above with each

section containing three types of information: items of interest, *historical facts*, and stories to

tell. There will be some repetition between stories in Part II and the tour description and as a

whole the tour should take no more than approximately 30 minutes depending on the audience.

This docent is to serve as a study guide to accustom you to the basic knowledge; however, the

sites will aide you in conveying the stories visually. Websites and other resources are listed at

the end of the manual in case guests have further questions or wish to research further.

19

The African Zion Baptist Church

Quick Intro: The church itself is a symbol of the African American families living in Malden

(formally known as Kanawha Salines) who organized what is thought to be the first African

American Baptist Congregation of the state in 1852. It was here where a young Booker T.

Washington would be baptized, attend church with his family, teach Sunday school, and marry

his first wife, Fannie Norton Smith.

**Reverend Lewis Rice was a key leader in the African American community in Malden **

** The church is believed to be the mother church of all African American Baptist churches

in the state of West Virginia**

The Ruffner’s: The Ruffner’s, a prominent family in the Kanawha Valley, were a driving force

behind the development of the community from the beginning including the creation of the

African Zion Baptist Church. General Lewis Ruffner financed the construction and donated land

and money for materials needed to build the church.

** Booker T. Washington remained as a member on the books throughout his life**

The bell tower remains as a functioning part of the church (may or may not have been

evidenced by choice of the guide)

National Registrar of Historical Places: The church was listed in the National Registrar of

Historical Places in 1974 with little changes in design of the church as well as retaining many

original pieces such as the floors.

Reconstructed Cabin & School

Reconstruction: The OIC, founded by Leon Sullivan, joined in the efforts to preserve Historic

Malden by reconstructing BTW’s boyhood cabin and school house based on known styles of

buildings, documents, and a photo of his home in the 1890’s.

20

** Leon Sullivan was a famed civil rights leader from Charleston who in the 70’s turned his

attention to ending the system of apartheid in South Africa and used his position as a board

member of General Motors to encourage economic influence to end the apartheid. He later

worked with Nelson Mandela to encourage companies to return to South Africa**

Differences between the two photos: There are two photos that depict Booker’s childhood

home in Malden and the one the OIC chose was the one after years of his family living there,

long after Booker had left to live with the Ruffner’s and moved on to Hampton Institute.

The loft served as a bedroom and although missing in the replica a second bedroom or an

additional living area was on the original house.

The fireplace served as a gathering spot for family to cook and eat together.

Booker’s Education: This is a replica of what is believed to be where African American children

go to learn when Reverend Rice opened his home to further their education. Booker wasn’t able

to attend right away due to working in the salt works with his stepfather in order to support

their family. After seeing Booker’s motivation, his mother arranged for him to work with a

teacher at night after work and he was eventually able to attend day school (his first formal

education) taught by William Davis for a few months at a time but had to miss often due to

grueling work schedules.

**William Davis was hired for the sole purpose of teaching the African American children and

was Booker’s first teacher. **

**child labor laws didn’t exist so there was nothing to keep Booker from working such long

hours**

**Booker adopted his full name Booker T. Washington during his time spent at school in

Reverend Rice’s home**

Viola Ruffner: Booker’s schooling had to once again be interrupted when he was sent to work in

the coal mines of Campbell’s Creek. However, this was short lived as he found work as General

21

Lewis and his wife Viola Ruffner’s live in houseboy and gardener. It was with Viola that he

learned lessons of cleanliness and hard work that he would use the rest of his life to carry him

through the Hampton Institute all the way to forming Tuskegee Institute. The Ruffner’s were

Mennonites and disliked any form of slavery and thus supported Booker’s search of education

and became strong influences in his life, remaining close friends throughout their lives.

The Future: Booker went on to form the Tuskegee Institute and spoke to thousands all over the

country on how African Americans needed to overcome racism and prejudice and better

their lives themselves. This brought the attention of W.E.B. Dubois; a well-educated African

American born free in Massachusetts. There was a mutual respect between the two; however,

differences in opinions put them on opposing sides. Booker felt that due to Dubois comfortable

upbringing he could not full understand the struggle southern African Americans endured

during slavery and in turn freedmen.

**Booker advocated a plan for vocational education while DuBois advertised his idea of the

“Talented Tenth” describing the development of the “Best of [the African American] race” that

would guide them away from the worst of others.**

**Washington would g o on to be the first African American to have dinner at the White

House as a guest of President Theodore Roosevelt in 1901**

Booker T. Washington Park

Amanda Ferguson Johnston: Booker’s half-sister Amanda was only 5 years when they moved

to Malden. She reportedly bought the property with her husband for $1.00 and Booker mentions

visiting his sister’s home multiple times. The house fell into disrepair and in the 70’s became

the driving force for the town of Malden becoming involved in preserving their history to

avoid similar fates. All that remains of the home is the stone foundation.

**Rumors say Booker had the home built for her—but it is not clear in any records**

22

** Amanda Johnston and her parents were among the first freedmen families to own a home

in Malden**

**Amanda’s married name is often written in documents as Johnson instead of Johnston

making it difficult to find certain information. **

The Booker T. Washington Park of West Virginia State University: West Virginia State

University now maintains the Park and other buildings involving BTW as part of their Booker T.

Washington Institute. Booker T. Washington had a hand in the formation of the historically

black school by suggesting that Byrd Prillerman to head the newly established West Virginia

Colored Institute, a Land-Grant Institution under the Second Morrill Act.

** Booker also had a say in a many of the Kanawha Valley’s politics and was on a committee

and involved in lobbying for the decision to move the state capitol to Charleston**

The monument in the center of the foundation of the old home was erected in 2009 and displays

the names of the Great African American Families in Malden and was dedicated at the Park to

acknowledge Booker and his family’s success as well as efforts of those involved in the

preservation of Historic Malden.

23

TOUR ROUTE MAP

24

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26

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